Lesson plan
Porkchop plot
, vertical axis: arrival dates (mm/dd)) A given blue contour represents a solution with a constant C 3 . The center of the porkchop is the optimal solution for the lowest C 3 . The red lines represent trips with the same travel time for the trajectory. The green lines represent the Sun-Earth-Probe angle upon departure. In orbital mechanics, a porkchop plot (also pork-chop plot) is a chart that shows level curves of equal characteristic energy (C 3 ) against combinations of launch date and arrival date for a particular interplanetary flight. The chart shows the characteristic energy ranges in zones around the local minima, which resembles the shape of a porkchop slice. By examining the results of the porkchop plot, engineers can determine when a launch opportunity exists (a 'launch window') that is compatible with the capabilities of a particular spacecraft. A given contour, called a porkchop curve, represents constant C 3 , and the center of the porkchop the optimal minimum C 3 . The orbital elements of the solution, where the fixed values are the departure date, the arrival date, and the length of the flight, were first solved mathematically in 1761 by Johann Heinrich Lambert, and the equation is generally known as Lambert's problem (or theorem).
Article summary
, vertical axis: arrival dates (mm/dd)) A given blue contour represents a solution with a constant C 3 . The center of the porkchop is the optimal solution for the lowest C 3 . The red lines represent trips with the same travel time for the trajectory. The green lines represent the Sun-Earth-Probe angle upon departure. In orbital mechanics, a porkchop plot (also pork-chop plot) is a chart that shows level curves of equal characteristic energy (C 3 ) against combinations of launch date and arrival date for a particular interplanetary flight. The chart shows the characteristic energy ranges in zones around the local minima, which resembles the shape of a porkchop slice. By examining the results of the porkchop plot, engineers can determine when a launch opportunity exists (a 'launch window') that is compatible with the capabilities of a particular spacecraft. A given contour, called a porkchop curve, represents constant C 3 , and the center of the porkchop the optimal minimum C 3 . The orbital elements of the solution, where the fixed values are the departure date, the arrival date, and the length of the flight, were first solved mathematically in 1761 by Johann Heinrich Lambert, and the equation is generally known as Lambert's problem (or theorem).
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.